The Town FilesElizabethton, Tennessee
City in Carter County · population 14,546 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,900
- Household income
- $46,975
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 40.9
Elizabethton is a city of 14,546 people in Carter County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $172,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 95% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 89% of Tennessee towns.
How Elizabethton ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elizabethton is worth $172,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $46,975, which is more affordable than 50% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $740 a month. 62.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabethton | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $740 | $863 |
| Median household income | $46,975 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.6% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Elizabethton
| People | Elizabethton | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 88.2% |
Weather in Elizabethton
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabethton since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 9, 2011 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 9, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 8, 1960.
Severe weather in Carter County since 1996
Carter County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 27, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Carter County
Carter County had 12,025 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,576 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Elizabethton itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Elizabethton
13 public schools with 4,899 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethton High School | 9-12 | 879 | 13.5 |
| T A Dugger Junior High School | 6-8 | 623 | 16.4 |
| Hunter Elementary | K-8 | 519 | 13.7 |
| East Side Elementary | PK-5 | 462 | 17.1 |
| Happy Valley High School | 9-12 | 450 | 17.3 |
| Harold McCormick Elementary | K-5 | 363 | 14.0 |
| West Side Elementary | K-5 | 362 | 17.2 |
| Happy Valley Middle School | 5-8 | 361 | 17.2 |
| Unaka High School | 9-12 | 309 | 13.4 |
| Valley Forge Elementary | PK-5 | 214 | 15.3 |
| Unaka Elementary | PK-8 | 213 | 15.2 |
| Carter County Online Academy | 4-12 | 83 | 6.9 |
Towns near Elizabethton
- Johnson City, TN8.0 mi · 71,046 people · home $268,200
- Unicoi, TN9.6 mi · 3,833 people · home $244,300
- Oak Grove, TN12.4 mi · 4,482 people · home $260,600
- Jonesborough, TN13.6 mi · 5,860 people · home $299,200
- Blountville, TN14.3 mi · 3,120 people · home $177,300
- Spurgeon, TN14.4 mi · 3,978 people · home $219,300
- Bristol, TN15.2 mi · 27,147 people · home $194,500
- Erwin, TN16.5 mi · 6,083 people · home $180,900
Elizabethton questions
Is Elizabethton, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabethton scores better for retirees than 65% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 14%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Elizabethton?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabethton is valued at $172,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,975, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $740 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabethton?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.0 inches of snow.
Does Elizabethton get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabethton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 9, 2011. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)